One of the most important assets we need during and following menopause is a sense of humour. Sometimes it is the only thing that gets us through a particularly “disturbing” and sometimes demoralizing view of ourselves.

 Remember the days when we complained about having to shave our legs, pits and crotches. Seems every time I turned around, I was pulling out the razor. Rapidly growing body hair was particularly annoying when I caught a few peeking out of my bathing suit. Like it wasn’t bad enough that there was barely enough material to cover my larger than life rear end!

  With menopause, we experience thinning of our luxurious manes, and in many cases, the loss of much of our bodily hair. But don’t throw away the razor yet!!!! Here comes the best part. What falls off our legs, arms and crotches, reappears on our faces!! Don’t panic. It’s not black and curly. It’s more like fine peach fuzz that covers the face – like a carpet of sorts.

So what do we do? Well, for starters, we dispose of the 10X magnifier mirrors. Years ago, we needed those unflattering, despicable things to tweeze our eyebrows, or – perish the thought – to pluck away an unsightly zit. No longer necessary girls. GET RID OF THEM.

Next, use soft light around your mirrors, and NEVER use heavy foundation or lots of powder. If it’s really bothersome, you can always rely on your esthetician for help.

Finally, and most importantly, appreciate the fact that you reached this stage of life. Appreciate the fact that you have loved ones and good friends with whom to share your stories and laugh out loud! It is a gift that gets us through a lot of the little tricks life in general, and Menopause in particular, play on us.

TYRRAL

PS check this link out!

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In this my first blog, I want to discuss my pet peeve – Menopause , or should I say the secrecy surrounding it as I approached the age of discovery

Women of my era, which was not THAT long ago, learned little or nothing of sex in general, and menopause in particular. My Mother and her peers NEVER mentioned the “M“ word, maybe because to them, it signalled the loss of their youth and vitality, and the descent into “dreaded” old age. I doubt there was any forum to discuss their concerns surrounding the loss of their periods, and the changes that accompanied that loss. In all probability, Menopause was an embarrassing topic and one to be avoided.

As I approached my early 40’s, and started experiencing an erratic menstrual cycle, I broached the subject to my mother, seeking comfort, reassurance that all was well, and advice as to what I may expect, going forward. Her response was “One day, my period just stopped.” Period – end of story. So began my lonesome journey of discovery.

My gynaecologist – a male – prescribed birth control pills to regulate my periods, but offered no hint of what might occur, as time went on – and I guess I was happy to remain ignorant. Shortly thereafter, HRT became the new buzz, and for the next four years I was on a roll – scant period once a month like clockwork, no unpleasant symptoms, great sex life, tons of energy, and life was great!

Then the bottom abruptly fell out. Hormone replacement therapy was discontinued and the “fun” began. I was suddenly adrift on a sea of what I perceived to be assaults upon my body; changes that NOBODY, not my mother, not my physician, NOBODY, had ever prepared me for, changes that annoyed me, angered me, and sometimes frightened me. I promised myself then, that my daughters would better manage their Menopausal symptoms. They would not be ignorant, because I would share with them all the “gory details” of this life – changing thing called “change of life”. I would empower them with the two simple tools they would need to get through it; one being Knowledge, which leads to resources, results and ultimately, relief! The second is a sense of humour, and the ability to laugh at themselves.

AT 64 years of age, I am still discovering some changes that accompany Menopause, but FINALLY, I am not alone. I am in the company of younger, yes, younger, independent, self-confident, and enlightened woman, who ask questions, demand answers, get results, and open up to their teachers, doctors, friends, family and perhaps most important, their partners, who travel the long road of life with them. They, more than anyone else, need to understand the physical and emotional changes that may accompany Menopause – changes that none of us bargained for, but nevertheless find our selves confronted with to varying degrees. C’est la vie, my friends!

As time goes on, I will share my experiences with you, and I hope you will share yours with me and whoever else visits our site. Through our stories, we might vent a little, cry a little, and laugh a lot. But rest assured, we will do it TOGETHER!

Good Health!

Tyrral

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